West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-10-20
A LONDON COSTERM0NGER.
A PECULIAR CHARACTER OF THE
BRITISH METROPOLIS.
Hts Fondncss for Street BrRwIs-
His Distinct Dress - Tho over
WorkCd Costcrmongcr PONY.


worked Costcrmongcr Pony.
The costcrmongcr is a peculiar charao
ter in London life, says 4. Crawford in a
letter to the New Nolk World lie is
nearly always London born, and has no
knowledge OF anything outside of the
narrow section Of London where he lives.
In many parts OF London there are sec
tionS occupied 10y people who have never
been outside OF their immediate neigh
borhoods. am tod by old Londoners
that in the East End there are thousands
OF people who have never been as far
west in London as Chsring Cross.
The London costermongcr generally
wears n fixed kind of dress. His hat is
alway u black derby, rusty from rain and
weather His coat is generally a rusty
black frock. He rarely wears waist
coat, His trousers may bo corduroy or
any kind of the cheaper wooden patterns.
His shoes are thick soled and hobnailed.
He always wears Colorcd handkerchief
tied around his neck in place of collar.
These handkcrchicfs arc always dirty,
except upon rare Sunday and holiday oc-
casions when new ties arc donnod. These
handkcrchicfs are always of fancful
yoritcs. They are worn high up on the
neck leaving couple of inches OF dirty
neck showing between the handkerchief
and the greasy collar Of the shambling
frock coat. The handkerchief is really
the badge Of the Order. THIS handkcr-
chief about tho neck designatcs the char
actcr and standing Of a man in England
rs completely and thoroughly as if he
wore uniform prescribed 10y act OF Par
lament The Costcrmougcrs are men en-
gagged in street traffic of all kinds. They
arc generally dealers in vegetables. They
begin with pushcarts, and If they are
prosperous aud reach tho climax of their
ambition they become tn . owl crs OF small
two-whcclcd wagons, drawn by little
donkeys or ponies TIE strength and
endurance the Sc snail an mails arc pho
nomcna!. | have seen from six TO eight
grown people on a costc:mongcr's cart
being draNn at furious pace by pony
not much larger than a good Nowfound-
land dog.
The costcsmongcr never gives his
PONY any rest. lie works him during
the week in his business and uses the
Wrctcned little animal on SUNDAY to give
his friends "a treat in the shape of a ride
to some coc>rcy resort in the suburbs.
The costcrnon GERS live in the street.
They arc never indoors except for eating
and sleep nC A very severe, driving
NO m Will sometimes force them into the
house. but they gcncr,ll take refuge
under an awning or some 81 cway. They
arc a hardy. tough, cOa:sc-dbcrcd people
The arc noisy and have a perfect pa sion
for scenes Of u roar and excitement. You
rarely ever hear of Costcrmong'rs muir
dcring any Cf their associates or Of their
us,ng knives or pistols in their quarrcls.
They have way Of poand .ng and kick
ing each other when engaged in dis
putCs, but arc rarely arrested, rs they
never seem 10 carry malice, and their
fights gcacraly wind up in good ma
TIN, Il way. The cos,crmongcr and his
fema c are very often the chief actors i'm
a street broil. When once a cost,rmon-
ger las begun q keep company with a
cost, rmongcr female then sic is consid.
cred his property. She speaks Of him
as her man and She is spoken Of ms his
gal / saw n dispute tho ether d ~ be-
tween costcrmongcr and his sweetheart
which WAS fairly illustrative OF Their
method Of settling disputes.
IT was Sunday morning. The two had
started out evidently for holiday He
was in his best. lie was a sur.y. heavy
iawel fellow with black eyes, n short
nose and brawny, Eary fists. lie wore
little black derby hat about three sizes
too small for his great, round head His
handkcph ef was the lightCst OF sky
blues. She wa, buXom, burly, of medium
hdght dressed i'm true costcrmonger
style. Their dispute grew out Of dif-
ference Of opinion as 10 where they
should spend the day. She insisted on
going ono way and he The other. They
disputed for half moment, and then he
turned around and deliberately gave her
Kick, which lifted her aboutsiX inches
from the sidewalk, 10 convince her that
hi, way was the best. She turned quickly
and began Kicking him in return The
way she brought h,r number ten boots
around against his shins very soon con
virccd him iha she was as strong at
that Kind OF argument as he. They
kicked at each other Tor about five min
u.cs, the centre of delighted and cheer
ing crowd, and then the ccostcrmonqcr fc.
mac 10y her skill in Kicking carried the
day. In moment or two more hc gaze
up. grinrcd good uaturcdly. and the
two walked on together for q happy
Sabbath.